U.S. patent application number 13/033841 was filed with the patent office on 2012-03-22 for portable electronic device.
Invention is credited to Yi-Hsiang Chao, Hsin-An HSU, Jin-De Lin.
Application Number | 20120069518 13/033841 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45817590 |
Filed Date | 2012-03-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120069518 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HSU; Hsin-An ; et
al. |
March 22, 2012 |
PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE
Abstract
A portable electronic device includes a computer housing and a
cover, wherein the computer housing includes a housing side portion
and a housing surface portion neighboring to the housing side
portion, an accommodating recess, a pivot slide recess, and a hook
slide recess. The cover includes a cover body, a pivoting portion
and a hook portion. The housing side portion and the housing
surface portion are recessed together so as to define the
accommodating recess. The accommodating recess is provided with two
positioning areas and a socket area in connection with the two
positioning areas, and that the socket area is provided with an
extension socket. The cover body covers, selectively, the
accommodating recess, and that the pivoting portion can slide and
can be pivotally arranged in the pivot slide recess, while the hook
portion can slide and can be arranged in the hook slide recess.
Inventors: |
HSU; Hsin-An; (Taipei City,
TW) ; Lin; Jin-De; (Taipei City, TW) ; Chao;
Yi-Hsiang; (Taipei City, TW) |
Family ID: |
45817590 |
Appl. No.: |
13/033841 |
Filed: |
February 24, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
361/679.58 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 5/0278 20130101;
G06F 1/1656 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/679.58 |
International
Class: |
H05K 5/02 20060101
H05K005/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 21, 2010 |
TW |
099131975 |
Claims
1. A portable electronic device, comprising: A computer housing,
including a housing side portion, a housing surface portion
neighboring to the housing side portion, an accommodating recess, a
pivot slide recess, and a hook slide recess, wherein the housing
side portion and the housing surface portion are recessed together
to define the accommodating recess, and wherein the accommodating
recess is provided with two positioning areas and a socket area in
connection with the two positioning areas, and the socket area is
provided with an extension socket; and a cover, including a cover
body, and a pivoting portion and a hook portion respectively
extended from the cover body, wherein the cover body covers,
selectively, the accommodating recess at top of the housing surface
portion, and the pivoting portion can slide and can be pivotally
arranged in the pivot slide recess, while the hook portion can
slide and can be arranged in the hook slide recess.
2. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at
least one of the two positioning areas is protruded with a
baffling-positioned element.
3. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein
the baffling-positioned element includes two metal elastic sheets
and are located at the positioning areas, respectively, and
opposite to each other.
4. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein
the metal elastic sheets are each provided with an arc positioning
surface.
5. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein
the baffling-positioned element includes plural elastic rubber
strips.
6. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the accommodating recess further includes a bottom wall adjacent to
the two positioning areas, and a baffling-positioned element is
protruded from the bottom wall.
7. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 6, wherein
the baffling-positioned element is an elastic rubber layer having a
-shape cross-section.
8. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a
baffling-positioned element is protruded from inner side of the
cover.
9. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the pivot slide recess is provided with a neck portion.
10. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, further
includes an extended connecting element having an extension adapter
and an extension port, where the extension adapter can be removable
and can be plugged into the extension socket, and the extension
port is exposed out of the accommodating recess.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a housing structure for an
electronic device, and more particularly, to a housing structure
adapted for a portable electronic device.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Nowadays, portable electronic devices, such as flat-panel
computers, notebook computers, personal digital assistants, and so
forth, are normally provided with extension sockets, for being
connected with externally-connected extension units, in response to
a possibility of extension in the future. To comply with various
interface specifications, currently exist in the market a variety
of sockets for options.
[0005] For example, universal serial bus (USB) is one of the serial
port bus standards for connecting with externally-connected
extension devices, and has been widely employed for computers such
that data exchange can be speedy, driver software is not required,
and hot swapping can be realized. In other words, when in use for
data storage, only plugging USB adapters to USB sockets in
computers or other electronic facilities is required, and thus it
is convenient for portability.
[0006] USB-connection devices, including drives, TV sticks,
wireless cards or wireless modules such as 3G Dongles, have been
very popular, to the effect, the drives can be used for data
storage and exchange, while the wireless modules for proceeding
with digital transmission and receiving. Generally speaking, a
USB-connection device is equipped with a USB adapter for plugging
to a USB extension socket in a computer mainframe, a flat-panel
computer, a notebook computer, or in an adapter. Referring to FIG.
1, a schematic view illustrating a conventional flat-panel
computer, a USB extension socket 93 is provided at a side 92 of a
computer housing 91. Whenever a user intends to connect a USB drive
94 with a flat-panel computer 90, a USB adapter 941 is employed to
align with the USB extension socket 93 and to plug into the USB
extension socket 93 directly so as to establish an electrical
connection therewith.
[0007] Obviously, under the above-mentioned structure, plugging the
USB drive 94 to the flat-panel computer 90 runs a potential risk.
This is because the USB drive 94 protrudes, alone, from the side 92
of the computer housing 91, and the length protruded from the side
92 of the computer housing 91 is equal to the length of a USB
housing 942. People around the flat-panel computer 90 will easily
impact the USB drive 94, unintentionally, and as a result, this
causes damage thereto.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a portable
electronic device, which, while being plugged into portable
electronic devices such as a flat-panel computer and so forth, an
externally-connected extension device, the externally-connected
extension device can be concealed, so that the possibility of
loosening off or damage thereof can be avoided when the
externally-connected extension device is hit.
[0009] To achieve the object, the portable electronic device,
according to the present invention, comprises a computer housing
and a cover, wherein the computer housing includes a housing side
portion and a housing surface portion neighboring to the housing
side portion. The computer housing further includes an
accommodating recess, a pivot slide recess, and a hook slide
recess, wherein the housing side portion and the housing surface
portion are recessed together for certain areas so as to define the
accommodating recess.
[0010] According to the present invention, the accommodating recess
is provided with two positioning areas and a socket area in
connection with the two positioning areas, wherein the socket area
is provided with an extension socket opened to, and away from, a
housing-side opening.
[0011] The cover includes a cover body, a pivoting portion, and a
hook portion, where the pivoting portion and the hook portion
extend from the cover body, respectively. The cover body can cover,
selectively, the accommodating recess at top of the housing surface
portion. The pivoting portion can slide and can be pivotally
arranged in the pivot slide recess, while the hook portion can
slide and can be arranged in the hook slide recess.
[0012] In view of the above-mentioned structural design, it is
understood that not only can the cover serve the function of
dust-proof and protection of the externally-connected extension
device, but also can the externally-connected extension device,
which has a certain length, be concealed for most part thereof when
it is plugged to a body of the portable electronic device.
Therefore, aside from a desirable appearance, the
externally-connected extension device will not be protruded too
much from the portable electronic device so as to avoid from being
subject to impact and leading to loosening off or damage of the
externally-connected extension device.
[0013] According to the present invention, at least one of the two
positioning areas is protruded with a baffling-positioned element
which is arranged in an extendible manner. In addition, the
accommodating recess further includes a bottom wall in connection
with the two positioning areas, wherein a baffling-positioned
element can also be protruded from the bottom wall. Or even a
baffling-positioned element can be protruded from inner side of the
cover. These baffling-positioned elements not only provide the
function of stable holding when the externally-connected extension
device is plugged to the portable electronic device, but also play
a key role in fitting externally-connected extension devices of
various dimensions.
[0014] According to the present invention, the configurations of
the baffling-positioned elements are not to be limited. For
example, the baffling-positioned elements may consist of two metal
elastic sheets located at the positioning areas, respectively, and
opposite to each other. The metal elastic sheets may each be
provided with an arc positioning surface for holding and
positioning the externally-connected extension device, so that a
smooth plugging process for the externally-connected extension
device to the portable electronic device can be obtained. Further,
the baffling-positioned elements may be plural elastic rubber
strips, or an elastic rubber layer having a -shape cross-section
and covering on the bottom wall and the positioning areas. The
baffling-positioned elements may also be a combination of metal
balls and springs such that the externally-connected extension
device can be held by the metal balls and the compressed springs at
two sides thereof.
[0015] Further, according to the present invention, the pivot slide
recess may be provided with a neck portion, so that the cover can
be positioned, at stages, in a pivoted or in a not pivoted
status.
[0016] Still further, the portable electronic device may further
include an extended connecting element having an extension adapter
and an extension port, where the extension adapter can be removable
and can be plugged into the extension socket, and the extension
port is exposed out of the accommodating recess. This will
facilitate an externally-connected extension device, which has a
length less than that of the accommodating recess, to be plugged
into the portable electronic device so as to avoid the difficulty
of plugging carried out in the accommodating recess.
[0017] Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
descriptions when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a conventional
flat-panel computer;
[0019] FIG. 2 is an exploded view illustrating part of a portable
electronic device according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a cover of the
portable electronic device, shown in FIG. 2, having not been
pivoted yet;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the cover of the
portable electronic device, shown in FIG. 2, having been pivoted
already;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the portable
electronic device, as shown in FIG. 2, being in connection with an
externally-connected extension device;
[0023] FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view illustrating the cover of
the portable electronic device, shown in FIG. 2, being refrained
from opening;
[0024] FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view illustrating the cover of
the portable electronic device, shown in FIG. 2, being free for
opening;
[0025] FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating part of a portable
electronic device according to a second embodiment of the present
invention;
[0026] FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating part of a portable
electronic device according to a third embodiment of the present
invention;
[0027] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating part of a
portable electronic device according to a fourth embodiment of the
present invention;
[0028] FIG. 10 is an exploded view illustrating part of a portable
electronic device according to a fifth embodiment of the present
invention;
[0029] FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating part of the
portable electronic device according to the fifth embodiment of the
present invention; and
[0030] FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating part of the
portable electronic device, as shown in FIG. 10, being in
connection with an externally-connected extension device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0031] Referring to FIG. 2, an exploded view illustrating part of a
portable electronic device according to a first embodiment of the
present invention, where the housing of a flat-panel computer is
shown, the computer housing 11 includes a housing surface portion
13 and a housing side portion 12. The housing surface portion 13
includes a top surface 13b and a bottom surface 13a neighboring to
the housing side portion 12, respectively. In the present
embodiment, the top surface 13b is arranged with a screen and/or a
touch panel (not shown), while the bottom surface 13a and the
housing side portion 12 are recessed together for certain areas so
as to define an accommodating recess 14.
[0032] In the present embodiment, in addition to the accommodating
recess 14, the computer housing 11 is also provided with a pivot
slide recesses 15 and a hook slide recesses 16, wherein the pivot
slide recess 15 is defined by a restricting block 51 neighboring to
a housing-surface opening 131 and extending toward one side of the
computer housing 11. The housing-surface opening 131 is referred to
as the area at the accommodating recess 14 at the top of the bottom
surface 13a of the computer housing 11; whereas a housing-side
opening 121 is referred to as the area at the accommodating recess
14 at one side of the housing side portion 12. The accommodating
recess 14 includes a side-wall portion and a bottom-wall portion
18, wherein the bottom-wall portion 18 neighbors to a lower portion
of the side-wall portion. The side-wall portion includes two
positioning areas 172 and a socket area 171 in connection with the
two positioning areas 172. The two positioning areas 172 and the
socket area 171 constitute, together, a -shape profile. The socket
area 171 is provided with an extension socket 19 which is opened to
the housing-side opening 121.
[0033] The extension socket 19 and the housing-side opening 121 are
apart from each other at a predetermined distance for receiving
most part of the length of an extension device. Now referring to
FIG. 6A, a cross-sectional view illustrating a cover of the
portable electronic device being refrained from opening, and also
to FIG. 2, the pivot slide recess 15 includes a neck portion 151
located between the front and rear ends thereof. The hook slide
recess 16 is provided at top of the positioning area 172, and
includes a restricting section 161 and a free section 162 which are
connected with each other, wherein the free section 162 is
communicated, directly, with the housing-surface opening 131.
[0034] In the present embodiment, the cover 20 includes a cover
body 21, a pivoting portion 22, and a hook portion 23, where the
pivoting portion 22 and the hook portion 23 extend outward,
respectively, from the cover body 21. The pivoting portion 22 is
shaped as a short cylinder, and it can slide and can be pivotally
arranged in the pivot slide recess 15, while the hook portion 23
can slide and can be arranged in the hook slide recess 16.
Depending on sliding of the pivoting portion 22 and the hook
portion 23 in the pivot slide recesses 15 and the hook slide
recesses 16, respectively, the cover body 21 can cover,
selectively, the housing-surface opening 131.
[0035] The two positioning areas 172 at side walls of the
accommodating recess 14 are each protruded with a
baffling-positioned element 24 arranged opposite to each other. In
the present embodiment, the baffling-positioned elements 24 are
each formed with metal elastic sheets, part of which is concealed
within, and abutting against, the computer housing 11, and part of
which extends out of a hole H of the positioning area 172 and into
the accommodating recess 14. Particularly, the metal elastic sheets
are each provided with an arc positioning surface 241, so that the
extension device can contact with the metal elastic sheets at a
smoother manner, and that frictional obstacles and damages can be
reduced.
[0036] A process of use of the portable electronic device is
exemplified with the following description, namely, FIGS. 3 and 4
are perspective views illustrating the cover of the portable
electronic device at different positions; and FIGS. 6A and 6B are
cross-sectional views illustrating the cover at different
positions.
[0037] First referring to FIGS. 3 and 6A, when none of any
externally-connected extension devices is connected with the
flat-panel computer, the cover 20 covers the housing-surface
opening, as shown in FIG. 3 presented by solid lines. At this
moment, the pivoting portion 22 of the cover 20 is located in a
space at right side of the neck portion 151, and that the hook
portion 23 of the cover 20 is restricted at the restricting section
161 of the hook slide recess 16, so that the cover 20 cannot be
pivoted upward.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6B, when a user intends to plug
the externally-connected extension devices to the flat-panel
computer, the cover 20 is first drawn toward the housing-side
opening 121, as shown in FIG. 3 presented by dotted lines. At this
moment, the pivoting portion 22 of the cover 20 slides across the
neck portion 151 and reaches to the left side of the neck portion
151, while the hook portion 23 of the cover 20 slides to the free
section 162 of the hook slide recess 16, as shown in FIG. 6B
presented by solid lines. Thereafter, because the hook portion 23
is no longer restricted, and because the pivoting portion 22 of the
pivot slide recess 15 can be pivoted, the cover 20 can be opened
and pivoted upward, as shown in FIG. 6 B presented by dotted lines.
In addition, since the pivoting portion 22 is restricted by the
restricting block 51, the cover 20 will not move upward and out of
the computer housing 11.
[0039] Now referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, when the cover 20 is
released from covering the housing-surface opening 131, the user
can plug an adapter 301 of an externally-connected extension device
(such as an USB drive) 30 into the housing-side opening 121 till
being engaged with the extension socket 19. Because the user can
observe an actual engaging status of the externally-connected
extension device 30 through what is exposed from the
housing-surface opening 131, a complete connection between the
externally-connected extension device 30 and the flat-panel
computer can, therefore, be assured. In addition, since the
accommodating recess 14, which has a certain length and able to
receive most part of the externally-connected extension device 30
or even all of a casing portion 302 of the externally-connected
extension device 30 (depending on the specification of the
externally-connected extension device 30), possibilities of adverse
effect resulted from loosening off or damage of the
externally-connected extension device 30, which is in a state of
connection, due to impact, can be reduced.
[0040] On the other hand, the baffling-positioned elements 24 at
the side walls of the accommodating recess 14 can be stretchable,
in compliance with the width of the casing portion 302 of the
externally-connected extension device 30, and hold the
externally-connected extension device 30 in position. This will
assure a safety usage of the externally-connected extension device
30. In other words, provision of the baffling-positioned elements
24 can help the portable electronic device fit externally-connected
extension devices 30 of various dimensions.
[0041] After firmly connecting the externally-connected extension
device 30 with the flat-panel computer, the cover 20 can be
operated in a reverse order different from the above so as to cover
and protect the externally-connected extension device 30.
[0042] Further referring to FIG. 7, a perspective view illustrating
part of a portable electronic device according to a second
embodiment of the present invention, the second embodiment is
substantially similar to the first embodiment in terms of
structure, except that in the former there are provided with
elastic rubber strips 31 acting as baffling-positioned elements,
where the elastic rubber strips 31 are provided at two positioning
areas 32, a cover inner side 33, and an accommodating bottom wall
34. This will also achieve the purpose, as the first embodiment,
that the elastic rubber strips 31 can help the portable electronic
device fit and position externally-connected extension devices 30
of various dimensions.
[0043] Now referring to FIG. 8, a perspective view illustrating
part of a portable electronic device according to a third
embodiment of the present invention, the present embodiment has a
structure substantially similar to that of the first embodiment,
with the exception that in the present embodiment a
baffling-positioned element 35, being an elastic rubber layer and
having a -shape cross-section, covers two positioning areas 36 and
a bottom wall 37. Similarly, the baffling-positioned elements 35
can also achieve the purpose of fitting and positioning
externally-connected extension devices 30 of various
dimensions.
[0044] Reference is made to FIG. 9, a cross-sectional view
illustrating part of a portable electronic device according to a
fourth embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is also
substantially similar to the first embodiment, except that in the
fourth embodiment two baffling-positioned elements 38 each consists
of a ball 381 and a spring 382, wherein the spring 382 biases, at
one end, against a computer housing 40, and at the other, the ball
381. The spring 382 pushes the ball 381 to expose out of a
positioning area 39 for a certain part. Likewise, the
baffling-positioned elements 38 can also achieve the purpose of
fitting and positioning externally-connected extension devices 30
of various dimensions.
[0045] Still further, referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, exploded and
perspective views illustrating part of a portable electronic device
according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, the fifth
embodiment is substantially similar to the first embodiment as far
as the structure is concerned, except that in the fifth embodiment
an extended connecting element 41 is additionally provided, where
the extended connecting element 41 has an extension adapter 411 and
an extension port 412, and where the extension adapter 411 is
plugged into an extension socket 43 and the extension port 412
exposed out of an accommodating recess 42. In particular, the
extended connecting element 41 can be removed as desired. FIG. 11
shows that the extended connecting element 41 has plugged in
position, and that a cover 44 has been in a shielding state.
[0046] Now referring to FIG. 12, a perspective view illustrating
part of the portable electronic device, as shown in FIG. 10, being
in connection with an externally-connected extension device, this
embodiment is suitable for an occasion when the
externally-connected extension device 45, such as a blue-tooth
transmission module, has a length less than that of the
accommodating recess 42. This is because a shorter
externally-connected extension device 45 is often used, and it will
be very inconvenient if in each use the cover 44 needs to be
opened. Furthermore, since the width of the accommodating recess 42
is narrow relative to the user's hand, it will be difficult to plug
the externally-connected extension device 45 in position.
Accordingly, to plug the shorter externally-connected extension
device 45 into the extension port 412 of the extended connecting
element 41 directly becomes very convenient as far as plug-in and
-out of the externally-connected extension device 45 is
concerned.
[0047] Although the present invention has been explained in
relation to its preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that
many other possible modifications and variations can be made
without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter
claimed.
* * * * *